The Undertaker's 24 WrestleMania Matches Ranked - From Worst To Best

15. Vs. Kane - WrestleMania XIV

Taker Mania XXX
WWE.com

The (first draft of the) Undertaker versus Kane rivalry was crafted so thoughtfully and plotted so exquisitely that even those predisposed to roll their eyes at WWE’s supernatural leanings could not help but admire it.

The match everything built towards, though, was laborious.

It was enforced by Kane’s role as Undertaker’s bigger and more sadistic doppelgänger. The character was meant to inspire a lurching dread within the audience, and he met the remit, stalking his older brother like the Michael Myers character after which he was fashioned - but in a new WWF, one rapidly breaking away from the shackles of the ponderous monster of the week formula, it failed to inspire much fervour from the Boston fans. The match was slow and bereft of heat until the final few minutes, which ‘Taker nearly rescued with a beautiful iteration of his over the top rope suicide dive. But the preceding action was too heavy on botches and too light on athleticism.

None of that mattered, ultimately. The Kane character got over huge. The objective was complete, even if it really does not bear revisiting.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!